ABSTRACT: The
blood count is an easily achievable routine exam and will it have specifics in
the event of a neonatal bacterial infection? Hence, the present study with the objective of determining the profile of the
hemogram of newborns hospitalized for early bacterial neonatal infection. Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional study that took place
from June 27 to September 03, 2016 in the
neonatology department of teaching hospital Gabriel Toure. Included were all neonates
hospitalized for early neonatal bacterial infection (ENBI) and who had a blood
count. Results: We included 227 patients,
64.8% of whom were premature. The sex ratio was 1.4. The infants were less than
24 hours old in 93.6% of the cases. The mean hemoglobin level was 16.435 g/dl [8.8 - 22.26]. Erythrocytopenia was found in 18.5% of cases. Anemia was present in 17%
of newborns. The
average leukocyte was 15.228·103/mm3 [1.4 - 72]. Hyperleukocytosis
and leukopenia were found in 12.32% and 6.6% respectively. Neutropenia
and lymphopenia were present in 14.5% and 30.8%. There was a correlation between leukocytosis of
negative blood cultures (23/27) (p = 0.030). For Neutrophils, neutrophilia
was more observed in term neonates and neutropenia in premature infants (p = 0.03). Monocytosis was present in 13.6% of cases. One quarter (25.5%) of newborns had thrombocytopenia. Conclusion: Hematological variations
did not allow a specific profile of newborns hospitalized for early neonatal bacterial infection to be identified.